OXFORD LAND TRUST - NEW ACQUISITION
Recently, the Oxford Land Trust (OLT) received a donation of 10.79 acres of land from developer, Gray Eagle, Inc. with road frontage on Hollis Drive in Oxford. This property contains beautiful New England forest and is bisected by Towantic Brook. This property is adjacent to a 17-acre section of Naugatuck State Forest adjunct and is near a 22-acre Town-owned parcel of open space. These physical conditions make it even more valuable as open space because the larger the open space the greater the diversity of plant and animal species.
In fact, both the OLT and the Oxford Conservation Commission/Inland Wetland Agency (OCCIWA) see the potential in this area for the establishment of a Towantic Brook Greenway Corridor. This makes sense because the slopes and wetland areas along Towantic Brook make a good deal of the land undevelopable. So, the OLT and the OCCIWA will pursue the development of a Greenway Corridor in this area.
At this time, the OLT would like to thank, very much, the following organizations and individuals for their part in making the acquisition possible. Thanks to OCCIWA, Gray Eagle, Inc., and Attorney, Fred Stanek of Welch, Teodosio, Stanek, and Blake.
As some of you know, the OLT is an apolitical, non-profit, 501(C)3 corporation established in 1988 to help preserve the rural character of Oxford. Its Board of Directors is staffed by volunteers who all share a passion for preserving a healthy environment in Oxford. The OLT also focuses on our local ecology and the great value of our natural resources.
In addition to the 150 acres of land to which the OLT currently holds title, the OLT was very supportive in the efforts to preserve 520 acres of what is now known as the Rockhouse Hill Sanctuary. Also, the OLT was instrumental in helping to preserve several hundred acres of Bridgeport Hydraulic Water Company property which is now part of the Naugatuck State Forest.
Also, the OLT sponsors annual educational programs, hikes, and the Earth Day, Town-wide Clean-Up during the month of April. The OLT assists Eagle Scout candidates in offering land-management projects and works with the local educators and grant writers to provide land-management opportunities and educational projects for the Oxford High School Youth Conservation Corp (YCC). In addition, for 11 of the last 12 years, the OLT has led field-study hikes for all the second graders at the Rockhouse Hill Sanctuary.
Over the last few years, like many other small non-profit organizations, the OLT has seen its operating budget shrink rather than increase. The OLT receives most of its income from membership donations and occasional grant monies received for specific acquisition, land-management, or educational projects.
The OLT hopes and trusts that the general public (including local businesses) is appreciative of all its fine accomplishments over the last 23 years. With this in mind, the OLT asks for your financial support (in any amount) so that it can continue working within its mission of saving land as open space and providing educational opportunities relating to our local environment. If you wish to lend your support, please consider becoming a member and/or make a donation to the OLT. You can donate via the OLT website by clicking the Donate button in the upper left section of this web page or you can send a check to: Oxford Land Trust, Inc., P.O. Box 616, Oxford, CT 06478. Your support is very much appreciated. Thank you !
Peter Petrochko – President, OLT.